What is PRP/PRGF ovarian rejuvenation and how does it work?
PRP/PRGF ovarian rejuvenation is a fertility procedure in which a concentrate made from your own blood is injected into the ovaries. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma; PRGF (plasma rich in growth factors) is a related preparation that is separated more gently and usually contains no white cells. Both are rich in growth factors, signalling proteins that the treating team hopes will stimulate dormant follicles and improve the environment in which eggs mature. The idea is to improve ovarian response in women with low reserve; it is not meant to reverse ageing of the eggs themselves.
It is offered in Turkey mainly to women with diminished ovarian reserve, poor response to stimulation in earlier IVF cycles, or early menopause who want to try before moving to donor eggs. This guide explains the mechanism, what research does and does not show, the approximate cost against other countries, recovery and the questions worth asking. Other options in this field are listed under our regenerative treatments in Turkey.
Does PRP ovarian rejuvenation actually work?
The honest answer is that it is still experimental. Small studies and case series from several countries report rises in anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), more antral follicles or a better response to stimulation in some women, and some pregnancies have been reported. But most of these studies are small, have no control group and use different preparations and protocols, so they cannot show that PRP caused the change. Professional bodies such as the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority describe intra-ovarian PRP as an unproven add-on with limited evidence of benefit.
That does not mean nobody benefits; it means no clinic can honestly promise a pregnancy, a hormone level or a number of eggs. A reputable team will say this plainly, explain that results vary, and tell you if your own situation makes a better-supported route such as donor eggs more realistic.
Who is considered for PRGF ovarian rejuvenation, and who is not?
Doctors usually consider women who have very low AMH or antral follicle count for their age, repeated cycles with few or no eggs collected, or early or perimenopausal changes, and who still have some ovarian tissue. It is less suited if there is no detectable follicle activity after full menopause, if there are other uncorrected causes of infertility (blocked tubes, severe male factor, uterine problems), or if you have a blood disorder, are taking anticoagulants that cannot be paused, have an active infection or may be pregnant.
A good clinic will take a history, check hormones (AMH, FSH, oestradiol), do an ultrasound count of follicles and often screen your partner before suggesting any ovarian procedure.
PRP, PRGF or stem-cell injection: what is the difference?
The three are often confused. PRP and PRGF use platelets from a standard blood draw; stem-cell approaches use cells taken from bone marrow or other tissue and are far less well studied for the ovary. The table compares them in broad terms.
| Approach | Source | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| PRP | Own blood, spun to concentrate platelets | Preparations vary; evidence limited |
| PRGF | Own blood, gentler separation, no white cells | Same evidence gap; protocol differs by clinic |
| Stem-cell injection | Cells from bone marrow or other tissue | Less research; regulation differs widely |
Ask which one is offered, how it is prepared and whether it is done under an approved protocol, because the label does not tell you what is actually injected.
How is the procedure done, step by step?
The whole procedure is usually a day case. A nurse draws a small amount of blood, typically 20 to 60 ml, from your arm. The sample is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate platelets and growth factors, which takes roughly 15 to 30 minutes. While it is prepared you receive sedation or light anaesthesia, because the injection route is transvaginal, using an ultrasound probe and a fine needle that passes through the vaginal wall into each ovary under direct view. The doctor injects the preparation into the ovarian tissue; each ovary takes only a few minutes, and the full session often lasts around 30 to 60 minutes.
Some clinics give the treatment once; others repeat it after a few weeks. Timing within your cycle is set by the team, and many want a wait of several weeks before stimulation or insemination so that any effect on hormones can be measured.
What does PRP/PRGF ovarian rejuvenation cost in Turkey?
Prices below are approximate ranges for a single session, not hospital quotes. They differ widely because some clinics sell the injection alone while others fold it into an IVF programme.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €500 – €2,000 |
| United Kingdom | €1,500 – €3,500 |
| United States | €1,500 – €4,500 |
| Germany | €1,200 – €3,500 |
What changes the price: the preparation used, the number of sessions, sedation or anaesthesia, hormone tests and scans before and after, and whether IVF is included. A package should list the blood tests, the procedure, the anaesthetist, follow-up scans and any airport transfers. Ask for a written breakdown and check what is charged separately if you go on to stimulation, egg collection or embryo transfer.
How long should I stay in Turkey and how is recovery?
For the injection alone most patients stay two to three nights: one day for tests and consultation, the procedure day, and a follow-up before flying. If it is combined with ovarian stimulation, egg collection or embryo transfer, the stay is tied to your cycle and may last ten to fourteen days or involve two separate trips.
Recovery is usually short. Many women feel mild cramping or light spotting for a day or two and return to normal activity within 24 to 48 hours. Heavy lifting, intercourse and baths are normally avoided for a few days. Any hormone change takes weeks, not days, so blood tests and a new follicle count are usually repeated after four to eight weeks to see whether anything has changed.
What results can you realistically expect?
Because the procedure is internal, there are no before and after photographs. Results are measured by blood tests, scans and, in the end, by whether a cycle yields eggs. Some women see a rise in AMH or in follicle count; others see no change. A change in numbers does not guarantee a pregnancy, and a pregnancy can occur without a measured change. Any figure quoted as a "success rate" should say what was counted (hormone rise, eggs retrieved, embryos, clinical pregnancy, live birth), in which age group and how many patients were included.
Risks and side effects of ovarian PRP injection
Because the preparation uses your own blood, allergic reaction or rejection is not expected. The risks come from the needle route and anaesthesia: bleeding, infection (pelvic infection is uncommon but serious), injury to nearby organs, pain and reaction to sedation. The long-term effect of injecting growth factors into ovarian tissue is not well studied, which is why the UK regulator rates such add-ons as unproven. Seek urgent care if you have heavy bleeding, fever, severe abdominal pain or fainting after the procedure, and tell the clinic what to do if that happens after you have flown home.
How to choose a fertility clinic, and red flags
Look for a licensed fertility centre with a reproductive endocrinologist or gynaecologist, an embryology laboratory, anaesthesia on site and a written protocol. Red flags include guaranteed pregnancy or "reversing menopause", prices quoted before any test results, pressure to book several sessions, no named doctor and no data on what the clinic has actually measured. Read how our process works and use the free quote page to send your reports for a written plan.
Questions to ask the clinic before you book
- Which preparation do you use, and how is it made?
- Is this offered under an approved protocol, and is it described as experimental?
- What do my hormone levels and follicle count suggest about my chances?
- How many sessions are advised, and what is the total price including tests and scans?
- Which outcomes do you measure, and can I see them for women of my age?
- What happens if there is bleeding or infection after I return home?
Hospitals with Regenerative Medicine in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is a fertility procedure in which a concentrate of your own platelets and growth factors is injected into the ovaries, with the aim of improving ovarian response in women with low reserve. It is considered experimental.
Small studies report rises in AMH or follicle count in some women and some pregnancies, but the research is limited and uncontrolled. No clinic can honestly promise a pregnancy or a hormone result.
Approximate ranges are €500 to €2,000 per session in Turkey, against about €1,500 to €3,500 in the UK. The price depends on the preparation, the number of sessions and whether IVF is included.
Both use platelets from your own blood. PRGF is separated more gently and usually contains no white cells, while PRP preparations vary by clinic. Neither has proven advantage for ovarian use.
It is done with sedation or light anaesthesia, so you should feel little during it. Afterwards mild cramps or light spotting for a day or two are common and settle on their own.
Most women resume normal activity within one to two days. Any change in hormone levels takes weeks, so blood tests and a follicle count are usually repeated after four to eight weeks.
Women with low AMH or antral follicle count, poor response in earlier IVF or early menopause who still have some ovarian activity. It is less suited if there are other untreated causes of infertility.
The preparation uses your own blood, so rejection is not expected, but the needle route carries risks of bleeding, infection and anaesthetic reaction. Long-term effects of the injection are not well studied.
There is no good evidence that it can. Some small reports describe returning periods, but they are not controlled studies, and a clinic that promises to reverse menopause should be treated with caution.
For the injection alone about two to three nights is usual. If it is combined with stimulation, egg collection or embryo transfer, the stay follows your cycle and may be ten to fourteen days.